Barcelona was not at the level of PSG, Flick – Voetbalnieuws is assigned

Hansi Flick admitted that Barcelona was not at the level of Paris Saint-Germain in their 2-1 Champions League loss on Wednesday.

Barcelona took the lead in the 19th minute through Ferran Torres, but they were coupled before the break of Senny Mayulu, before Goncalo Ramos yielded a late winner for the ruling champions.

It was only the second 90th minute winning goal against Barcelona in the history of the Champions League, and the first once scored from home against the Blaugrana in a major European competition.

Barca has only lost three of their last 52 Champions League matches when scoring the opening goal-alle three were at home at PSG (formerly 1-4 in February 2021 and 1-4 in April 2024).

Flick’s side dominated in the first half and he acknowledged that a quieter second half had eventually cost them.

“We started very well, but after 30 minutes they checked the game better and we solved,” said Flick. “In the second half they were better and we were not at our best.

‘We can’t say we are with them [PSG’s] level. But I believe in my team and we have not seen our best. We have lost, but we want to go back to our best, and that’s why we have to train and improve. We will see what we have done wrong.

“We did not have our structure in the second half. We have to train and improve. The game helps us a lot. I am sure we can play like PSG, but we have to hold.

“The whole team has to attack; everyone has to defend. At PSG everyone knows how to operate space, how to play two-on-one.”

A positive for Barcelona was that Torres’ goal means that they have now scored in 45 consecutive games in all competitions, a run that extends until December 2024. It is their longest scoring run in their entire history.

Marcus Rashford recently played his role in Die Run – he has been involved in seven goals in his last seven games for Club and Country (three goals, four assists), and helps with each of his last three outings for Barcelona.

But Flick did not want to concentrate on the record, because it could not be celebrated with a victory.

“I don’t want to think about the record,” said Flick. “We have lost and I don’t like losing. We could have scored more. We have to accept the defeat.

“If you are tired, what happened in the second half happens. Their philosophy is fantastic; their young players are also very good.

“They came in with fresh legs and raised their level, did not lower it. We will talk on Friday to see what we should improve.”